OREANDA-NEWS. Tele2, alternative mobile operator, has summed up 2012 international roaming results. The number of international roamers doubled over the year, whereas outgoing calls dialed by Tele2 clients abroad surged three-fold.

The mobile internet usage has considerably increased in the Tele2 network in 2012. Data traffic exhibited skyrocketing growth and performed a six-fold increase against 2011. The number of SMS sent from abroad surged 75%, whereas the number of outgoing calls in international roaming doubled. In 2012, the number of incoming calls in international roaming increased by 70% against 2011.

 In 2012, most demanded international destinations were CIS countries, Finland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Estonia, UK, France, Sweden and Czech Republic. There was no change in the list of Russians’ most beloved resorts: Egypt, Spain, Turkey, Cyprus, Greece and Thailand.

 Last year, Tele2 clients visited such exotic getaways as Antigua and Barbuda, Fiji, Grenada, Liberia, Bahrain, Australia, Peru, New Zealand, Burundi, Benin, Greenland and Cape Verde.

 In 2012, most active travelers were from St. Petersburg, Chelyabinsk, Omsk and Izhevsk.

 Tele2 subscribers increased their use of international roaming in 2012 thanks to considerable drop in tariffs. In May 2012 the company launched a free-toll option “Beneficial roaming in Tele2-penetrated countries” for all subscribers. Those subscribed to the service pay only 5 rubles per one minute and 1 megabyte of data in Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia and Kazakhstan.

 Tele2 lowered the cost of international roaming as part of special tariffs for travelers “Zvoni deshevle” (“Call for less”). Incoming and outgoing calls are rated at 5.5 rubles per minute in Europe, CIS and Turkey. Tele2 subscribers pay 7.5 rubles in Africa, Asia and Australia and 33.5 rubles in North and South Americas.